Dave discusses how he approaches disappointment, failure, and adversity as a way to evolve and improve, and that the keys to successfully navigating that terrain come down to fine tuning the finer details of things and setting your ego aside to not only accept what you don’t know, but also do seek out those who do know and learn from them.

The Godfather strives to “fight the war on mediocrity” daily, and it starts with his athletes. He continually impresses upon his athletes the importance of working towards being a better person, a better student, and a better weightlifter….in that order. It’s a simple recipe that can provide a potent punch.

Mark Bell PowerCast with Dave Spitz and Wes Kitts

Part 1 - Dave Spitz, owner of California Strength, a well-known weightlifting gym on the Bay Area, and his top lifter Wes Kitts joined us recently. Wes is the owner of the American record for the snatch with 175kg (385.8 lbs). Part 1 largely focuses on Dave’s foray into weightlifting and how it led to the formation of California Strength.

Part 2 - This episode includes a conversation about Cal Strength’s NFL combine prep course, the most funny/painful story in the history of the show that DOESN’T involve poop, as well as other topics.

The Mind Muscle Project with Dave Spitz - 6/18/17

How a small Youtube channel sparked a weightlifting movement, the California Strength story with Dave Spitz. Dave also discusses the importance of CrossFit and the continued growth of American weightlifting and dives into the Barbell WOD Program.

'Airborne Mind' Podcast with Dave Spitz - 1/4/16

In this episode, some things we chat about:

How Dave kept the doors open during the dark days when Olympic Weightlifting wasn’t cool (along with tons of other lessons for gym owners), what goes into a great strength program for CrossFit and other sports, and strengthening the bridge between Olympic Weightlifting and CrossFit.

Show Notes:

(3:25) – Before Cal Strength became Cal Strength(6:30) – Internal self talk when starting Cal Strength(8:35) – Building your tribe and attracting the right athletes(10:40) – Keeping the doors open during the dark days(12:06) – 3 pieces of advice for gym owners who want to go from hobby to business(14:27) – Core values to stick to if you want to specialize in athletic performance(16:20) – Initial reaction when CrossFit came along(20:17) – What is it about the Snatch that gets you hooked?(22:20) – Tinkering with why you have limitations and what you can do to alleviate them(24:20) – Growing the sport of weightlifting in the U.S.(30:30) – The chess game being played at a weightlifting meet(33:05) – Molding the training environment based on the stimulus you’re trying to achieve(36:25) – Structuring your strength to get better at CF(39:40) – What makes a great strength program(41:41) – Partial range movements for Olympic Lifting(43:49) – Reflecting on the trends from Barbell WOD’s data points(47:20) – Preparing for the Olympics(49:25) – Using your athleticism to lift the weight(50:48) – Athletic development for kids(53:58) – What GPP should look like before you specialize

'PowerAthlete' Podcast with Dave Spitz - 12/30/16

THE COACH'S HIPPOCRATIC OATH

When you want to be the best, you have to believe in your heart that you're a bad motherfucker. These sage words come from none other than this week's PA Radio guest, Dave Spitz. Coach Spitz runs California Strength in NorCal and is committed to making American Weightlifting medalists....So much so that he he believes a coach's is job is to work for the athlete, and not the other way around.

The guys discuss the pros and cons of early adoption of the sport and specialization as well as some of what Dave would considers essential attributes of a successful weightlifter. You may find it surprising that the age old practice of sizing up an athlete based on limb and torso length does not hold weight as once thought. Even a seasoned coach like Dave is constantly reevaluating his assessment process.

And finally, a few stories about notorious Bulgarian Weightlifting master, Coach Ivan Abadjiev. The man often referred to as "Uncle" by his pupils is always to be respected and never to be trusted. Find out why!